OUR SMALL HERD

Our original four boys came from Ardo Alpacas in Aberdeenshire. We are not alpaca breeders and have our boys purely as pets. Our experience is that you don't need to be a breeder and that a 'batchelor herd' can give much pleasure to the owner. We have 5 acres including our big garden and grazing for the boys, 15 miles north of Inverness, Scotland. I spin, knit, felt and crochet with the fleece from the boys.

Clicking!!

Just a reminder that clicking on (most) of the photos will show them greatly enlarged.

Sunday 22 February 2015

In the pen

We had decided to pen the boys mid-week so that we could do some check-overs and toe nail clipping now that the snow had gone.  This is Fyta (left) and Fidget looking a bit apprehensive especially Fidget whose nails need a clip.
Fergus just knows that his nails need cutting and is not too happy about it!  However, we managed to get them done without too much problem.   He and Fidget look very alike don't they?
Fergus's front feet showing how the outer nails bend inwards and require regular cutting.  They have always been like this and both he and Fidget, the two white boys, need regular nail clipping.
Wee Eck causes a bit of temporary aggro in the pen with his huffing and puffing but by the look of the back of his neck, one of the other boys has given him a taste of his own medicine! I rubbed Sudacreme into the inside of his ears and also those of Faro as both of these boys tend to get 'crusty' inner ears.
After a check over the boys are led out of the pen one at a time.  This is Gully who also had his back nails cut.  In the background are Faro, Fidget and Rufus.
 
Then it was time for a change of grass in the bottom paddocks.  Faro knows the instruction, "Go on then Faro!" and off he runs to the gate followed by the rest of the gang. Once the gate is opened there is the usual jumping around with excitement - always great to watch.
On Saturday we had a return to some snow but which thankfully did not last.  It meant that we gave the boys their sugar beet meaning that Fidget (right) gets it all over his mouth!  Gully (left) and Rufus are also in the picture.
And finally..............the boys at the fence keeping an eye on a neighbour's dogs.  From the left, Fidget, Wee Eck, Faro, Fyta, Gully and Fergus.

3 comments:

  1. Looking well...toe nails are the down side of having 110...must get on with it soon!

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  2. Br, it looks very chilly up there in Scotland! We'll be shearing in 2 months...doesn't seem possible, but Spring is showing it's head now albeit with lots of wet stuff as well! Hope those boys saw of the neighbours dogs with that stare they do so well! Are they used to them or do they alarm call when they see them?

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    1. For some reason there were plenty of alarm calls when this photo was taken which is unusual for them as they normally just view the dogs with suspicion! More fresh snow here - where's that Spring? Shirley & Robbie

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